Embroiderers break silence on royal wedding dress

Anne Butcher from Surrey ACL with a display about the royal wedding dress

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Embroiderers from Surrey Adult and Community Learning were among those who worked on Kate Middleton’s wedding dress.

Anne Butcher, Sophie Long and Kate Farrer were unable to talk about their experience working on the most talked about wedding dress of the year at the time but have now broken their silence.

The trio described the pride and responsibility in keeping Britain’s most closely guarded secret.

“As Royal School of Needlework (RSN) members we are often called on to help with commissions, so when we were asked to take part in another new project we didn’t think it was anything unusual," Anne said.

“We joined a team stitching very fine lace motifs, but we weren’t told what it was for or who had commissioned it.

“We kind of guessed though, given the intense secrecy surrounding the project. We weren’t even allowed to talk to our families about it.”

The mystery was such that the team had to wait until the big day, just like everyone else, for the full picture to be unveiled.

Anne added: “It was 11am on the wedding day before we knew what designer we had been working for, or what the finished dress looked like. We were so proud when we saw it though, it was charming and elegant and she looked just beautiful.

“It was a relief when we were finally allowed to talk about it.”

Anne believes the hype surrounding the dress will lead to a surge in demand for its lace and embroidery courses in Cranleigh, Farnham, Sunbury, Camberley and Woking.

Craft skills play a big part of Adult Learning in Surrey, with courses for complete novices through to those who have developed their skills to a high level.

Anyone who has been inspired by the dress and would like to learn the techniques for themselves can visit www.surreycc.gov.uk/adultlearning or contact Surrey County Council on 01483 518558 to find out more.